Description and History

NPL Listing History

NPL Status: Final

Proposed Date: 10/15/84

Final Date: 10/04/89

Deleted Date:

The Motorola, Inc. (52nd Street Plant) Superfund Site (Site) is a large area of contaminated groundwater extending from the former Motorola facility and other sources. The responsible parties have operated various soil gas and interim groundwater treatment systems since the early 90’s that have reduced contamination. In addition, vapor intrusion mitigation has been installed at 15 homes. EPA and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) are working to develop final cleanup actions over the next few years.

The Site is located in Phoenix, Arizona, generally between 52nd Street on the east, Palm Lane on the north, 7th Avenue on the west, and Buckeye Road on the south. Because of the size of the site, it has been divided into three areas called Operable Units (OUs) in order to better manage the cleanup efforts (click here to see Site Map).

ADEQ is the lead agency for activities in OU1 and OU2 with the exception of the vapor intrusion/indoor air investigation in OU1 and OU2. EPA is the lead agency for OU 3.

Contaminants and Risks

Contaminated Media

Groundwater

Air

Soil and Sludges

EPA and ADEQ identify Contaminants of Concern (COCs) during the RI/FS process that help drive cleanup decisions at a site. At the Motorola 52nd Site, past studies have identified Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as the COCs that are currently driving cleanup. Under the classification of VOC, Trichloroethene (TCE) and Tetrachloroethene (PCE) are the two specific contaminants of concern. EPA and ADEQ are currently gathering information across all OUs and may be adding COCs.

Various measures have been put into place to reduce groundwater migration and contamination, and to prevent soil exposure. EPA has also been studying the possibility for soil vapor from contaminated groundwater to migrate into buildings and impact indoor air. In OU1, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (Freescale, an independent company spun off from Motorola in 2004), has sampled 115 residences, 4 schools and 7 commercial buildings with EPA oversight. Freescale also installed sub-slab depressurization systems at 15 homes and apartment units and successfully reduced TCE concentrations to below 2ug/m3 in those homes/buildings.

In the Phoenix area, drinking water is provided primarily though surface water (95%) and limited groundwater (5%) from areas located outside of the the Motorola 52nd Street Superfund Site.

Who is Involved

Investigation and Cleanup Activities

In the past, chemicals were spilled/leaked at the former Motorola plant at 52nd Street and McDowell Road, the Honeywell facility at 34th Street and Air Lane, and potentially at other facilities in the area. These chemicals seeped downward through the ground and mixed with the groundwater and formed a wide spread groundwater plume toward the west. Freescale and Honeywell (the Companies) have been working to investigate and cleanup the contamination. ADEQ and EPA closely monitor all work performed by the Companies at this site.

The Site was proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1984 and placed on the final NPL in November 1989 to investigate the presence of soil and groundwater contamination by chlorinated solvents (more information on Site contaminants can be found below).

Initial Actions

1st Interim Remedy 1988

In 1988, prior to final listing, ADEQ and USEPA approved a groundwater recovery and treatment system as an interim remedy known as OU1. In 1989, ADEQ and Motorola entered into a consent order requiring Motorola to design and implement groundwater and soil remedies. The full-scale treatment system was constructed in 1992 and designed to restrict contaminant migration at the Crosscut Canal along 46th Street, and to reduce the levels of contamination at the Motorola facility. Since 1992, Motorola/Freescale has been operating and maintaining the system under ADEQ oversight.

Initial Actions

2nd Interim Remedy 1994

In 1994, ADEQ and USEPA selected a second interim remedy near 20th and Washington Streets designed to contain and treat the groundwater contamination in the OU2 area. ADEQ signed a Consent Decree with Motorola for the remedial design of OU2 in 1996. The design was completed and approved in December 1999. USEPA signed the Explanation of Significant Differences to the OU2 Record of Decision (ROD) in September 1999 to describe the changes in water treatment technology and end-use of the treated water. USEPA issued a Unilateral Admistrative Order to Freescale and Honeywell in November 1998 for the construction of the OU2 treatment system and operation and maintenance of the system for two years.

This Order was amended in December 2003 to provide for long-term operation and maintenance of the system by the Companies. The OU2 treatment system construction began in March 2000 and was completed in October 2001.

The OU2 treatment system became fully operational in December 2001. The Companies are responsible for the operation of this system under ADEQ and EPA oversight. Also in OU2, Honeywell, has been conducting an investigation of soil and groundwater contamination at its facility. ADEQ and Honeywell entered into an administrative order on consent (AOC) in September 1999 to conduct a remedial investigation (RI) at the 34th St. Facility. The AOC required Honeywell to investigate its potential source areas and to define the full extent of its contamination at and emanating from the 34th St. Facility. Honeywell completed this RI in 2008 and completed a baseline Human Health Risk Assessment in 2012.

Site Studies

2012 Human Health Risk Assessment – OU2

As part of the human health risk assessment, a workplan for an indoor air vapor intrusion investigation at the Honeywell 34th street facility began in 2011. Honeywell discovered a jet fuel plume at their facility that was mingling with the larger VOC plume. They installed a Biologically- enhanced Soil Vapor Extraction (BSVE) system to address the jet fuel plume in 2009 managed by the ADEQ Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Action under a corrective action plan. As of the first quarter of 2012 the BSVE system has removed in excess of 4,000,000 pounds of petroleum hydrocarbons and recently, removal rates have averaged over 5000 pounds per day indicating that the BSVE system is performing very well.

Cleanup Ongoing

Third Operable Unit

In 1997, USEPA and ADEQ established a third OU study area to address groundwater contamination downgradient of OU2. USEPA entered into an AOC with Honeywell and Arizona Public Service Company to perform the remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) for the OU3 Study Area in late 2009. The Remedial Investigation began in 2010.

Status: Source Investigations and Soil Gas Sampling near Soil Vapor Monitoring Well – 1 (SVMW-1) are planned in 2014. This investigation will help complete the groundwater investigation and, ultimately, the RI/FS with a target completion of summer 2015.

Cleanup Ongoing

Recent and Upcoming Activities in OU 1 and OU2

The OU1 and OU2 treatment plants have been effective in containing the plume and reducing concentrations of contaminants in most areas. However, the 2011 Five Year Review of the remedies concluded that there were several issues that needed to be addressed in order to get to a final remedy.

One major issue is addressing an ongoing source of contamination—dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) that has seeped into fissures in bedrock—and the other is to complete the evaluation of the vapor intrusion pathway in OU1 and OU2.

In 2009, a Bedrock Pilot Study was initiated in order to evaluate the effectiveness of extracting DNAPL from bedrock using wells. The data from this study is still under review, and a conclusion as to how to proceed will be reviewed as more data is received.

In 2011, EPA entered into an agreement with Freescale to investigate the soil gas to indoor air pathway in OU1. Soil gas samples were taken first and analyzed for TCE and PCE. Because concentrations of TCE were above health-based screening levels, from 2011 to 2014 EPA followed up with subslab and indoor air sampling of homes, apartment buildings, and commercial buildings in the suspected area. Under EPA oversight, Freescale sampled 115 residences, 4 schools and 7 commercial buildings. Fifteen (15) mitigation systems were installed and are routinely monitored. Although 4 locations refused mitigation, all remaining homes now have levels below current health-based screening levels.

An investigation into whether vapor intrusion is occurring in OU2 is scheduled for 2014, following similar protocol as what was used in OU1.

Status:

OU1 – To assist in the bedrock study and help further identify groundwater and soil vapor conditions, additional groundwater and soil vapor monitoring wells were installed in late August 2013 through Fall 2013. Ongoing monitoring of the homes and apartment units equipped with indoor air mitigation systems will continue through 2016 when the frequency of monitoring will be evaluated based on the data gathered.

OU2 – In summer 2013, ADEQ will negotiate and sign a Statement of Work (SOW) and Administrative Order on Consent. This action will allow investigations on the RI to begin, as well as additional investigations on the potential for Vapor Intrusion.

Cleanup Results to Date

Potentially Responsible Parties

Potentially responsible parties (PRPs) refers to companies that are potentially responsible for generating, transporting, or disposing of the hazardous waste found at the site.

Potentially Responsible Parties
The Motorola 52nd Street facility was originally constructed in 1956 and was in operation until the third quarter of 1999. Freescale has agreed to implement the requirements of the OU1 ADEQ consent decree (CD), the EPA Administrative Order of Consent for investigating and remediating the vapor intrusion pathway in OU1, and the OU2 EPA Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO).

The Honeywell 34th Street facility was constructed in 1951 and continues to operate today. Historically, the Honeywell facility has operated under the names of AiResearch Manufacturing Company of Arizona, Garrett Turbine Engine Company, and AlliedSignal Aerospace Company. Located on approximately 188 acres and consisting of more than 130 buildings, Honeywell and its predecessors have conducted jet engine design, assembly, testing, and repair at the site.

In 1992 and 2003, USEPA conducted Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) searches which identified numerous PRPs for the Site. As of January 2012, USEPA and ADEQ have entered into enforcement agreements with:

Freescale

Honeywell

Arizona Public Service

the Salt River Project

Phoenix Newpapers

Baker Metals

Adobe Air/Arvin Meritor/Cooper Industries

Walker Power

Kachina Joray, ITT

Canon

Other potential sources are under investigation to determine whether they contributed to the groundwater contamination and are responsible for investigation and cleanup.

Community Involvement

Public Meetings: A new Community Information Group was formed in 2010 and meets regularly. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2015, from 5:45-8:45pm (please arrive at 5:45pm if you are new to the Group and would like an introduction to the site). It will be at the Balsz Elementary School District Board Room, at 4825 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85008.

Please contact the Community Involvement Coordinator, Carlin Hafiz, at (213) 244-1814 if you or a local group would like to get more involved or would like to be added to the mailing list.

PRP Contact

Community Contact

Our Community Involvement Plan contains a list of community contacts for this site. Please contact EPA or ADEQ for this information, or contact your local neighborhood association, group, or city councilman.